Country Singer Darryl Worley Calls for American Unity in Revamped 9/11 Song
By Movieguide® Staff
Country singer Darryl Worley teamed up with Wynn Varble to revamp their “post-9/11” song “Have You Forgotten?” to call for unity in a divided America.
“While ‘Have You Forgotten?’ was intended to serve as a reminder of the devastation wrought by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the follow-up [‘Have We Forgotten?’] features retooled lyrics that promote a message of unity,” Fox News reported.
Singer-songwriter Noah Gordon first approached Worley about updating the song.
“His idea was to call it ‘Have We Forgotten?’ and write it about our division and how just what, if anything, that anyone could do to bring about a little bit of unity might help in our nation,” Worley explained.
While initially hesitant, Worley and Varble decided, “Hey, you know what? If it affects a thousand people, and they have maybe just a little bit of a new thought process about what could we do to be a part of the solution as opposed to part of the problem.”
“Have You Forgotten?” was written when the country came together after the national tragedy.
“And, I mean, man, I just keep going back to 9/12, how unified we were. The most amazing thing that I’ve seen in all of my years. And I think it’s terrible it has to come to something like that for our people to show their American pride. You know, pull together as one,” he continued.
Since then, Worley explained, “it seems like the American people are caught up in this drama and this conflict and just always at odds about something.”
In the updated version, Taste of Country reported, “Specific references to war, the Pentagon and Osama Bin Laden are swapped out for sentiments of unity, as well.”
“Have we forgotten who we really are? / All the storms we’ve had to weather and how we ever got this far / Have we forgotten how it used to be / When we could still sit down together and agree to disagree / And the common good was what we had in common / Have we forgotten? / Have we forgotten?” Worley sings.
“This classic with a timely and relevant read [poses] a question that all Americans are asking themselves – ‘how did we get here?’” Scott Borchetta, a label executive, added. “America experienced this extraordinary moment with 9/11 that brought us all together. Now, here we are twenty years later, and our political parties can’t agree on what day it is. Hopefully, this will be a positive step forward in reminding us all that, as Americans, we’re at our best when we’re taking care of each other.”
“Have We Forgotten, this beautiful lady that stands tall to remind us of our freedom, our democracy, our love and compassion, and our unity as Americans! Let’s reach back and find it all in our hearts once again!” Worley posted on Instagram with a video of the Statue of Liberty.
“I don’t and will never try to tear this country apart because I hate another person’s beliefs. I may not understand another person but I can reach out my hand to them to do the best thing for our nation,” he shared in another Instagram post.
“We just want people to hear this,” Worley concluded about the song. “We want it to get a chance to get out there, you know, whether it be through country radio cycles and circuits or if it’s just digital, it doesn’t matter. We just want people to hear the message.”
